Install MySQL on Ubuntu

Introduction

This Quickstart guide explains how to install MySQL on a Vultr Ubuntu cloud server. The guide applies to Ubuntu 16.04 through Ubuntu 20.10 LTS.

1. Deploy Ubuntu Server

• Deploy a new Ubuntu Vultr cloud server instance.
• Follow our best practices guides:
  • Create a sudo user.
  • Update the Ubuntu server.

Change to your sudo user for the remaining steps.

2. Install MySQL

1. Install MySQL.

    $ sudo apt install mysql-server -y

2. Enable MySQL to start on boot.

    $ sudo systemctl enable mysql

3. Secure the database. Answer all the security questions as shown.

    $ sudo mysql_secure_installation

   * Initially, there is no password for root. Press Enter.

        Enter current password for root (enter for none):

   * Press Enter to enter a new password.

        Set root password? [Y/n]

   * Enter and confirm a root password for MySQL.

        New password:
        Re-enter new password:
        Password updated successfully!

   * Press Enter to remove the anonymous user.

        Remove anonymous users? [Y/n]

   * Press Enter to disallow remote root logins.

        Disallow root login remotely? [Y/n]

   * Press Enter to remove the test database.

        Remove test database and access to it? [Y/n]

   * Press Enter to reload the privilege tables.

        Reload privilege tables now? [Y/n]

   This completes the basic security configuration.

3. Test

1. Connect to the database as root.

    # mysql -u root -p -h localhost

2. Create a test user.

    > CREATE USER 'test_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'test_pass';

3. Create a test database.

    > CREATE DATABASE test_database;

4. Grant the test user privileges on the test database.

    > GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON test_database.* TO 'test_user'@'localhost';

5. Exit the database client.

    > quit

Conclusion

You have successfully installed MySQL on a Vultr Ubuntu cloud server. For more information, see the official MySQL documentation.